A Retrospective on Air Quality Management during the Biden Administration

• By: AWMA
• On: 01/02/2025 15:24:44
• In: EM Articles
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by Susan Wierman

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President on January 20, 2021, leading the executive branch of government for what he finally confirmed would be just one four-year term. Articles in this issue of EM review selected U.S. air quality management developments during the Biden Administration and point out challenges ahead.

In the first article, “Environmental Justice and New Source Review Developments During the Biden Administration,” Eric Hiser considers the effect of the Biden Administrations' priorities on programs requiring New Source Review permits. The author highlights aspects of the Administration's focus on environmental justice that have affected EPA's oversight of state/local permitting programs and resulted in significant enforcement actions.

The Biden Administration faced numerous challenges. In the next article, Clara Poffenberger explains how President Biden's “ambitious” air pollution regulatory agenda was disrupted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Poffenberger also highlights the Biden administration's use of intrinsically impermanent executive orders to enhance federal agencies' attention to environmental justice.

The third article in this issue, which focuses on EPA's research accomplishments, is authored by Chris Frey, former EPA Science Advisor and Assistant Administrator for Research and Development. Frey led ORD from early 2021 through fall 2024. He briefly highlights ORD's work related to the COVID-19 pandemic, cumulative impacts, climate change, community engagement and environmental justice, scientific support for EPA's rulemaking decisions, and improved detection and quantification of pollutants.

An important example of EPA's continued work to improve air quality is described in the article by Yihao Xie of the International Council on Clean Transportation. In “Charging Toward Cleaner and Zero-Emission Trucks and Buses,” Xie highlights EPA's progressively stronger emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles beginning with Model Year 2027.

In the final article in this issue, “Environmental Justice Research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” EPA staff member Aaron Ferster and colleagues provide additional details about new decision-support tools, as well as efforts to address cumulative impacts and help communities identify and address problems with air quality, contaminated sites, and risks exacerbated by climate change.  

As articles in this issue of EM illustrate, the administration made progress despite significant challenges, but much work remains. The re-election of President Trump made news as this issue was going to print. Future actions by courts, Congress, and the next Trump administration will influence the long-term legacy of the Biden administration.

Continue reading the full January 2025 issue of EM.